Although MT6589 is not the first quad-core SoC (system-on-chip) announced by Taiwanese company MediaTek, it’s the first one shipping.

The newly launched MT6589 SoC is world’s first quad-core Cortex-A7 system-on-chip that makes it to the market, MediaTek claims.

Even though the company is known for manufacturing chipsets for budget-friendly Android smartphones and tablets, with the new solution MediaTek plans to tap into the mid- to high-end smartphone market.

It is also worth mentioning that the new chipset is also the world's first HSPA+ smartphone platform that comes with Dual-SIM support and Dual-Active functionality.

Moreover, the MediaTek MT6589 chipset features support for 1080p 30fps/30fps low-power video playback and recording, along with a 13-megapixel camera module that packs Integrated ISP, and up to full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) LCD displays.

“The ARM Cortex-A7 is the most power-efficient applications processor ever developed by ARM. We are pleased MediaTek is the first company to combine a quad-core Cortex-A7 and leading edge 28nm manufacturing with TrustZone for system-level security,” said Laurence Bryant, director of mobile solutions, ARM.

Last but not least, the MT6589 integrates support for Miracast technology for multi-screen content sharing, as well as support for MediaTek's 4-in-1 connectivity combo, which includes 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and FM radio.

The Taiwanese manufacturer also confirmed that its MT6589 quad-core solution is now integrated into Android smartphones and tablets devices by MediaTek's customers, and the first products based on this new chipset would arrive on the market in Q1 2013.